The effects of three types of tutoring treatments on the attitudes of learning-disabled and control students (n=124) in grades K-6 were compared. The tutoring programs, involving sign language and reading, produced beneficial effects on attitudes about peers, school, and learning, whereas control students did not experience comparable gains.…

Noting weaknesses in "standard" methods of measuring listening skills, developes a five-factor model utilizing three different kinds of memory and adding tasks requiring interpretation and concentration. Varying subscales--with the exception of the interpretive task--are found to be sufficiently reliable for research purposes. (NH)

A research sample of 56 college and universities provides nationally representative descriptive data on the linguistic theory and applied linguistics content in the curriculum of graduate programs in bilingual education in the United States. Suggests directions for change in such curricula. (Author/LMO)

Two authors of a high school-level speech communication textbook examine reactions from individuals and committees concerned with textbook adoption and create a new scenario depicting the way they would have liked to have responded to events. (NKA)

Discusses the importance of dialogue in learning, notes that it is lacking in many educational situations, and recommends the use of written dialogue journals as a means of communication between teachers and individual students. Points out the advantages of dialogue journals for improving writing for different social purposes. (SKC)

This paper describes a program that systematically increases the composition productivity of disabled students who are inexperienced writers. Program features include building discourse units, using student-generated language, and incorporating self-evaluation. Procedures for small group instruction focus on constructing and testing clauses,…

Suggests that the European perspective on adult second language learning provides important background information for adapting such instruction for American adults. Factors discussed include: adults' specific learning biographies; motivation; learning styles; individual differences; teacher-student partnerships; language skill development and…

Reports on a study into the perceived problems that foreign graduate students in engineering pose to engineering faculty, as well as the solutions to those problems. Summarizes survey responses relating to communication and language difficulties, program and academic performance, and social and cultural factors. (TW)

Describes a 50-minute session designed to improve students' writing of science laboratory reports. Using an improperly worded description of how to make a peanut butter sandwich, the students work in groups to improve "point of view" and "voice." The changes are then used to create better reports. (TW)

Describes an activity in which students observe pairs of students engaged in conversation. Observations of "body language" are made, shifts in stance, and duration of stance. Discusses the application of this type of study to other species. (TW)

Academic alliances among educators who share ideas about teaching are flourishing in almost every state. First started in foreign languages, they are now being set up in other disciplines, primarily English, geography, history, mathematics, and science. (MSE)

Explains the functions of and the techniques employed in expert systems. Offers the program "The Periodic Table Expert," as a model for using artificial intelligence techniques in BASIC. Includes the program listing and directions for its use on: Tandy 1000, 1200, and 2000; IBM PC; PC Jr; TRS-80; and Apple computers. (ML)

Considers recent efforts within the field of psychology to understand issues involving gender. Demonstrates patterns of development within feminist psychology and its relation to mainstream psychology. Examines status of the field, two case studies, and new research. (Author/SA)

Describes an integrated series of computer-assisted reading (CAR) materials under development at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. The discussion indicates some of the problems in teaching reading with computers, describes the framework of the CAR project, and gives specific examples of activities. (SED)

When 32 mentally retarded adults who had been transferred from large institutions to new small units were tested 5.5 years after the transfer, tests indicated that they had retained or regained adaptive behavior skills but had declined in psycholinguistic abilities. (Author/CB)